ABSTRACT
Pollens derived from various ragweed species are one of the most important sources of allergenic proteins in different parts of the world. Although pollination typically begins in midsummer and extends to late autumn, the pollinating seasons vary by geographic location. Immunotherapy with ragweed vaccines is effective therapy for ragweed-allergic patients. There are many other allergic weeds, both related and unrelated; however, ragweed species are by far the most important clinically and, hence, have been studied thoroughly. Using molecular biological techniques, investigators have advanced the knowledge of the allergenic constituents of different ragweed species and provided information on the molecular structure of their allergens and their potential cross-reactivity. Special attention is given in this chapter to the integration of morphological, taxonomical, and aerobiological aspects, as well as, the biochemical and clinically relevant aspects of weed pollen allergens.
